Stocks edge higher after Yellen remarks

KEN SWEET
AP Markets WriterPublished: February 11, 2014 11:11AM

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks rose in early trading Tuesday as new Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen signaled the central bank would continue to dial back its stimulus program if the economy keeps improving.

CONTINUITY AT THE FED: In her first prepared comments since taking over the top Fed job last week, Yellen said in prepared remarks to Congress Tuesday that she expects a "great deal of continuity" with her predecessor, Ben Bernanke. She signaled that she supports his view that the economy is strengthening enough to withstand a pullback in the Fed's stimulus, but that rates should stay low to fuel further growth. Last week the Fed announced it would reduce its bond purchases by $10 billion a month to $65 billion a month.

CVS RISES: Drugstore and pharmacy benefits company CVS Caremark rose $1.69, or 3 percent, to $68.61 after the company reported a 12 percent rise in fourth-quarter earnings, beating analysts' forecasts. CVS said last week it would stop selling tobacco products, which the company expects will cost about $2 billion in sales and will cut its earnings by 6 cents to 9 cents per share.

BARCLAYS CUTS: Barclays fell 79 cents, or 4 percent, to $17.41 after the British bank, citing a slowdown in its investment banking division, said it would slash up to 12,000 employees.

SPRINT POSTS LOSS: Wireless carrier Sprint posted a $1.04 billion loss, or 26 cents per share, compared with a loss of $1.32 billion, or 44 cents per share, in the same quarter the year before. However, the company said it added 477,000 wireless subscribers in the quarter and its loss was less than what analysts had expected. Sprint rose 40 cents, or 5 percent, to $8.09.